Fish Abundance and Habitat Recommendations of the Lake Whatcom Tributaries

• Main Author: Edwards, Ariel
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Published: Western CEDAR 2016
• Subjects: Lake Whatcom; Tributaries; Cutthroat trout; Stream habitat; Austin Creek; Anderson Creek; Smith Creek; Olsen Creek; Beaver Creek; Riparian zone; Environmental Sciences; Higher Education; Austin; Pacific
• Online Access: https://cedar.wwu.edu/wwu_honors/1; https://cedar.wwu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1000&context=wwu_honors

The tributaries of Lake Whatcom, Austin/Beaver, Anderson, Olsen, and Smith Creeks, provide essential habitat for many fish species native to the Pacific Northwest. However, development in the watershed has contributed to habitat alterations and even degradation of habitat quality. In this report, fish abundance and diversity, and habitat quality is compared both temporally, and among different streams. Anderson Creek was found to have the greatest species diversity. Cutthroat trout was the most abundant fish at each stream throughout the study period and was observed at every study site. Restoration recommendations for each stream were aimed at supporting existing native fish populations primarily by improving bank stability and restoring riparian zones. Future management plans should take into account the current and historical fish populations in the watershed and consider the recommendations identified within this report.